All the money went to Lou and Razor but that's not to say it's to the detriment of your overall enjoyment. While the rest of the actors range from poor moderate or simply OK, and just a few are occasionally good… Lou and Razor do a fine job, Razor's heartless bastard performance actually convinces. The movie itself moves at a reasonable pace, first 5 minutes aside. It reminds you of the 51st state with slightly lower production values.

Personal take…

This is the sort of film of which reviewers who should not leave a review because they do not embrace the genre will say things about like, "just wasted a half hour of my life".

In my case, I feel fans of Indie Brit flicks with that American twist will enjoy it, or anyone who just wants to see Jerry Anderson doing his best Ray Winstone impersonation. If you want a deeper plot or high production values with a perfect script then this may not be for you. For the former group there are some sadistic scenes and some reasonable action to be had (given Lou's getting on a bit).

High art this is not, but a guilty pleasure for some… maybe!

Overall, I enjoyed it.

Ara Paiaya lets rip with a proper budget for once in INSTANT DEATH, a familiar revenge-themed action flick starring the one and only Lou Ferrigno as a grieving grandfather out for justice against the drug dealing thugs who bumped off his granddaughter and seriously assaulted his daughter. I've enjoyed Paiaya's work, having seen all of it by now, although he was hampered by too-low budgets for the first decade of his career; this film's a lot better and his previous one, SKIN TRAFFIK, the best yet. INSTANT DEATH is more heavy on plot than most and there's not a huge amount of action until the second half; there's also less martial arts than you might expect from a Paiaya film. What we do get are a Colonel Trautman character, a horrific rape scene rivalling Winner's DEATH WISH, and lots and lots of shooting. It's not an amazing film, but given the budget it's not bad at all.

This is another vigilante film. Death Wish VI would be too obvious. John Bradley (Lou Ferrigno) is now a civilian with PTSD and a colonel handler like Rambo. John witnesses a killing by drug dealer Razor (Jerry Anderson) who "leaves no witnesses." John's family becomes victims and John goes "Death Wish" all over the drug gang on a take no prisoners, show no mercy mission.

Lou can't act. He is like a Neanderthal Seagall, except he can still move. His lisp and inability to communicate adds a camp element to the film, i.e. "so bad it is good." The western music at the end made me chuckle. If you like a mindless "Death Wish" type of film, this is it. No twists.

Guide: F-word, rape, nudity (Tania Staite)